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Anahita Ghazanfari

Born 1977 in Khoramabad, Iran

Anahita Ghazanfari’s passion for art is something that has been cultivated since early in her life, nurtured by the belief her archeologist father holds that self-knowledge comes from an understanding of one’s past, encouraging her to learn, understand and appreciate her country’s culture and traditions. This encouragement included allowing her to express her art freely, including on the walls of their home, and exposure to history books, poems, and museums. These experiences still feature prominently in her work today.

Although her pursuit of art as a career path received support from her parents throughout her early life, Anahita regards the beginning of her lifelong journey really began when she turned 18, and received a life-changing gift from her father, an analogue camera.

Anahita’s philosophy of artistic practice is that art transcends medium, with both the camera and brush complementing each other to help her create poetic visual stories.

Currently, Anahita lives in Malaysia, a move that she regards as one that has allowed her to expand her horizons and view art from a perspective that goes beyond her home country.

Nature features prominently in Anahita’s body of work, combined with elements of memories from her past and influences from Iranian Islamic art. Despite accepting the modern world, Anahita realizes that nature is all enveloping, and that we, too, are very much a part of nature.

Using nature as a basis, her works delve into the subject of human perception, combining diverse elements such as her own insights, emotions, memories, and observations.

I truly believe that art is soulful and resides deep within oneself. Art is roused by the harmonious vibes and beauty of nature that envelopes us. Nature is within us as it is around us and we all hail from nature. Modernity does not annul this fact.

Nature touches and invokes its most primal creativity in an artist. Hence, works of art are projections of an artist's soul to the outside world. In my case, nature speaks to my soul and predominantly through its magnificent beauty and permanence paradoxical to the evanescence imposed by human ambition and limitations. Nature gives us recognition of source and hope of continuity.

Education

Master of Art in Illustration, Art University, Iran

Bachelor of Art in Painting, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran

Awards (selected)

2010

Shortlisted for First Monorail Photo Festival, Malaysia

2002

First Place, Abyaneh group photo exhibition/competition, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran

2001

First Place, Dialogue of Civilisations group photo exhibition/competition, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran